Commencement of 2022 school year

Dear Parents and Families,

As students prepare to return to school and the family swings into the routine of Term 1, I hope you are well and charged with the enthusiasm and resolve to embrace the new school year.  While there are several unknown factors as we move forward, as a school we are working towards a return that is as normal as possible.  As we have done for the past two years, we will adapt and change as events unfold and circumstances change. You can be certain that we will keep you informed as we move along.

I hope the information below will provide clarity around the return to school.

Return to Term 4 settings

As students return for Term 1, the settings that were in place in Term 4 will remain.  These settings are mandated by the Department of Education and include;

• Students and staff are required to wear masks inside all buildings.
• Teachers will provide hand sanitizer to each student as they enter class.
• Students are encouraged to wash their hands with soap at each break.
• Playground areas will be allocated to student cohorts. (Stage 4 – Years 7 and 8, Stage 5 – Years 9 and 10, Stage 6 Years 11 and 12)
• Touch point cleaning of surfaces such as handrails and door handles will continue throughout the day.
• Air purifiers will be operational throughout the day in those rooms where they are provided.
• Parents/Caregivers of students who are unwell at school and display COVID like symptoms will be contacted and asked to collect their child.  The student should undertake a Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) to determine COVID status.
• Students and teachers are encouraged to undertake a RAT test each Monday and Wednesday before attending school.
• Teaching and SASS staff will not be able to administer RAT tests.
• Parents and all other non-essential school visitors cannot be on school grounds (The exception being Year 7 parents escorting their child to school on day 1 and parents accessing the uniform shop)

Year 7 Information

Information to assist Year 7 with the start of the school year will be provided separately.

Air Conditioning

There are two ongoing issues with the Cooler Schools Air conditioning installation;

• Employee shortages due to COVID experienced by the contractors
• Electrical upgrade.

The major internal electrical upgrade that required the school to be without power for 4 days was scheduled during the Christmas holidays but did not take place due to staff shortages.  This will now not take place until the Easter break.  Endeavor Energy has not yet commenced work on the electrical substation at the front of the school and a time frame has not been provided.

For this reason, the air conditioning system will not be operational this term.

Air conditioning was installed in support classrooms and the music room during the holidays and paid for by the P&C.  These units will be operational.

Swimming Carnival

The swimming carnival will go ahead on Thursday 3rd February.  Key points;

• You are encouraged to drop and pick up your child from the venue (Merrylands Pool).
• All students are to attend the carnival, there will be no students remaining at school.  All staff will be attending the carnival.
• Students travelling by bus to the venue will do so in cohort groups.
• Students must wear a mask whilst travelling by bus.
• Students will be seated in cohort groups at the carnival
• Unfortunately, parents are unable to attend the event this year.
• Students wishing to re-enter the pool after the carnival will not be permitted to do so prior to 3pm and must pay another entrance fee. Please note, if a child is under the age of 16 they need to be under the supervision of an adult. (These are the requirements of the pool management)

Sport

On Wednesday 2^nd February there will be no sport and students will repeat periods 1 and 2.  A staggered finish around 2:30pm will be in place.

More information regarding the organisation of sport will be provided early Week 3.

Staffing

The greatest uncertainty as we start the school year remains with staffing and the school remaining operational.

We have a number of staff who are;

• currently self-isolating as they are COVID positive
• caring for a family member who is COVID positive
• suffering from Long COVID symptoms.

In preparing for this uncertainty, we have secured two day to day casuals every day for the remainder of the term.  However, there is an extreme shortage of casual teachers and we are experiencing difficulties engaging additional casual staff on a daily basis.

As the situation unfolds over the term we will keep you informed.

Once again, I look forward to working with you throughout the year.  As the past two years have shown repeatedly, the Greystanes High School Community enjoys a culture of generosity, support and determination.  These are the qualities that are essential in times of uncertainty.

Yours Sincerely

Grant Sparke

Principal

Greystanes High School